jfoxny

Just bought a hardtop and wanted to be able to install it and remove it myself. So, I did some research and found a few solutions:

Buy:
http://www.hoistlifts.com/hard-top-hoist/porsche/

DIY:
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...top-hoist.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...oist-help.html

But ultimately, I decided to build my own, simple block-and-tackle hoist. The simple form of the block-and-tackle gives you a 2-to-1 mechanical advantage, that is, if the thing you are lifting weighs 100lbs you only have to exert 50lb of force. You can build more complex systems to provide greater mechanical advantage but the hard top doesn't weight much (75lbs?) so I figured this would be good enough. Here's what I did for about $50 (from Lowes):

Simple Block and Tackle:
1. Lag Screw Eye (I actually got this at the Home Depot - the lag eyes at Lowes did not have any weight rating on them)
2. Covert 1/4" Stainless Steel Spring Link - $4.97
3. Covert 1-1/2" Heavy-Duty Single Swivel Eye Pulley - $5.98 x 2
4. Lehigh 3/8-in x 100-ft Braided Polypropylene Rope (By-The-Roll) - $9.98
5. Blue Hawk 3/8" Chain Spring Link - $6.97
6. Blue Hawk 5/8" Chain Fixed Eye Hook - $6.48
... optionally: Blue Hawk 4-1/2" Chain Rope Cleat - $1.98

Harness:
A. Blue Hawk 2" Chain Welded Ring - $1.48
B. Secure Tite 4-Pack 1-in x 6-ft Cam Buckle Tie Down - $9.97
...optionally: Secure Tite 1-in x 14-ft Tie Down - $7.98

Assemble the block and tackle as shown in the photo:
1. Screw a lag eye into a ceiling beam
2. Connect one pulley to the lag eye using the larger carabiner
3. Tie off one end of the rope to the lag eye
4. Feed the other end of the rope down through the lower pulley and then up through the top pulley
5. Connect the hook to the bottom pulley using the small carabiner



The harness has no assembly per-se. Simply hook one end of the straps to the ring and adjust the straps to the appropriate lengths. You'll want to hook two of the straps on back below the glass (heavy end) and then hook two on either side of the top. The hooks are all ruberized so they will not scratch the top.

Optionally, instead of using all four rubberized hook-straps, you can use the tie-down straps to form a loop around the main body of the top and then just use two of the rubberized hook-straps to secure the back of the top.

Share and enjoy.

Jason

Edgy01

Good for you! I tried something like that initially but wound up buying an electrical one so that I could stop it mid way up or down. Unfortunately, that company is now out of business.